Question

    California’s Yosemite National Park is home to many stunning waterfalls. However, from mid-to-late February each year, the unlikely star of the preserve is Horsetail Fall-a small waterfall that forms over the eastern edge of the park’s famous vertical rock formation, El Capitan, every winter. That’s because, during the two-week-period, the temporary1,000-foot fall frequently transforms into a red “firefall” for about ten minutes a day during sunset.

For the phenomenon to occur, several conditions need to coincide. There must be enough snow and snow must be melted to form the waterfall. During drought years, Horsetail Fall is reduced to a trickle flowing slowly in drops or does not appear at all. Additionally, the skies have to be entirely clear. Even a slight mist is enough to ruin the illusion (错觉) of fire falling down the cliffs. Finally, the sun has to strike the water from the right angle to set the waterfall “burning” brightly.

The “firefall” has been popular with professional and amateur photographers since the 1940s.However, in recent years, thanks to social media, its fame has risen to new heights, with thousands of people flocking to the national park each February. In 2019, over 2,200 people crowded into the small viewing areas on February 22, the best day to see the light show last year. However, the visitors not only stepped on sensitive vegetation but also left behind large amounts of rubbish.

To prevent a repeat of the unfortunate incident, in 2020, the park service closed two of the ideal viewing areas. The only one open required a 1.5-mile-long hike. However, the 3-mile round-trip, as well as a warning by the officials that a dry spell turned the fall into a trickle, leaving the possibility of a “firefall” in doubt, didn’t not seem to have deterred fans. Hundreds of people made their way to Horsetail Fall to catch a glimpse of the light show. Hopefully, Horsetail Fall enthusiasts would be more respectful of the natural environment this time.

1.When can the “firefall” be seen?

A.About at dawn.

B.Exactly at noon.

C.Just before dusk.

D.Late at night.

2.Which of the following conditions must be met for the “firefall” to be visible?

A.The temperatures have to be warm enough.

B.Horsetail Fall must be reduced to a trickle.

C.There has to be enough slight fog in the sky.

D.The waterfall must be frozen down the cliff.

3.What do we know from Paragraph 3?

A.The “firefall” was discovered by a photographer.

B.The viewing areas were equipped with telescopes.

C.Social media offer new tools to view the “firefall”.

D.The tourists caused the environmental pollution.

4.What does the underlined word “deterred” in the last paragraph mean?

A.Disapproved. B.Discouraged.

C.Disturbed. D.Distinguished.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了加州的Yosemite国家公园每年2月中下旬的“火瀑布”奇观。文章说明了这一现象发生所必须的条件，以及历年来“火瀑布”一直受到人们欢迎的情况。然而在2019年2月22日，游客们不仅踩踏了敏感的植被，还留下了大量的垃圾。为了防止类似的不幸事件再次发生，公园管理局也采取了相应的措施。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中That’s because, during the two-week-period, the temporary1,000-foot fall frequently transforms into a red “firefall” for about ten minutes a day during sunset.可知，这是因为，在两周的时间内，1000英尺的落差经常在日落时变成红色的“火瀑”，每天大约10分钟。由此可知，日落时，黄昏前可以看到“火瀑布”。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段中There must be enough snow and snow must be melted to form the waterfall.可知，必须有足够的雪，雪必须融化形成瀑布。由此可推知，要能看到“火瀑布”，必须满足温度必须十分温暖，能够将雪融化成瀑布。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段中However, the visitors not only stepped on sensitive vegetation but also left behind large amounts of rubbish.可知，然而，游客们不仅踩踏了敏感的植被，还留下了大量的垃圾。由此可知，游客造成了环境污染。故选D。

4.词义猜测题。根据上文However, the 3-mile round-trip, as well as a warning by the officials that a dry spell turned the fall into a trickle, leaving the possibility of a “firefall” in doubt, didn’t not seem to have可知，然而，3英里的往返行程，以及官方发出的干旱天气使瀑布变成涓涓细流的警告，似乎并没有阻止粉丝们的热情。由此可知，划线单词意思为“阻止”。故选B。